Scaffold structure

ABSTRACT

A ground-supported scaffold for use in erecting a building wall, having at least two upright ladderlike frames spaced apart lengthwise of the scaffold, a platform-mounting carriage vertically movable on each of two adjacent frames, and a winch including attaching elements readily applicable to and removable from a selected rung on each upright frame. The winch is manually actuated to wind up a cable to lift one of the carriages. Preferably each carriage has spring-actuated latches automatically engaging successive rungs on the respective frame as the carriage is raised to support the carriage independently of the winch and cable.

United States Patent Robert W. Fortner lnventor Memphis, Tenn. Appl. No. 10,368 Filed Feb. 11, 1970 Patented Oct. 12, 1971 Assignee Bluff City Manufacturing Co., Inc.

Memphis, Tenn.

SCAFFQLD STRUCTURE 9 Claims, 11 Drawing Figs.

US. Cl 182/146 Int. Cl E04g 1/20 Field ofSearch 182/146, 145,142,l78,103, 132

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,311,070 2/1943 Morando 182/ 103 6/1949 Rambo 182/178 Primary ExaminerReinaldo P. Machado Att0rneyBedell and Burgess ABSTRACT: A ground-supported scaffold for use in erecting a building wall, having at least two upright ladderlike frames spaced apart lengthwise of the scaffold, a platform-mounting carriage vertically movable on each of two adjacent frames, and a winch including attaching elements readily applicable to and removable from a selected rung on each upright frame. The winch is manually actuated to wind up a cable to lift one of the carriages. Preferably each carriage has spring-actuated latches automatically engaging successive rungs on the respective frame as the carriage is raised to support the carriage independently of the winch and cable.

PATENTEB BET 1 21911 SHEEI 3 BF. 3

SCAFFOLI) STRUCTURE SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The scaffold structure includes upright ladderlike frames spaced apart lengthwise of the structure and a horizontal platform carriage movable vertically on each frame for storing supplies. Each carriage includes lateral cantilevers extending I laterally beyond the upright frames upon which additional platform or catwalk planks may be mounted at the same or at a different level. Each carriage may be raised or lowered by an individual winch which is readily applicable direct to a selected rung and independently of the mounting of the carriage on the frame. Each winch includes a drum and a cable anchored at one end to the drum and secured at its other end to the carriage. Each carriage straddles an upright frame. Adjacent frames are braced to hold the associated carriages in spaced relation so that the platform boards between them cannot drop.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective showing a scaffold structure including upright frames spaced apart lengthwise of the scaffold.

FIG. 2 is an end elevation of the scaffold structure.

FIG. 3 is a horizontal section on line 3-3 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a vertical view of the structure shown in FIG. 3.

FIGS. 5 and 6 are detail vertical sections on lines 55 and 6-6 of FIG. 4.

FIG. 7 is a vertical section through one of the upright frames with a readily detachable winch applied to two of the frame rungs.

FIG. 8 is an elevation of the winch.

FIG. 9 is a detail vertical section and elevation on line 99 of FIG. 8 on a larger scale and with the housing cover removed.

FIG. 10 is an elevation and section of the joint between two upright posts looking in the direction indicated by arrow 10 in FIG. 1.

FIG. 11 is a detail view of one of the base support jacks looking in the direction of arrow 11 in FIG. 2.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Planks 1, jacks 2 and transverse beams 3 form a readily adjustable, stable base for upright ladderlike frames including sectional tubing posts 6. Rungs 8 between the posts of 'each frame brace them transversely of the length of the scaffold. The upper end of each upright post has a smaller extension 7 projecting beyond the end of the tube and the outer end of the extension is contracted for ready insertion in the lower end of the next section. A V-shaped spring 10 (FIG. 10) has one leg secured to the extension and its other leg mounts a pin 11 slidable through lateral openings in the extension and the lower end of the next section 6 to anchor the sections together. Cross braces 9 extend between the upright frames longitudinally of the scaffold.

A carriage is mounted to move vertically on each upright frame and includes horizontal beam elements 13, preferably structural steel angles arranged in pairs and straddling upright frame posts 6. The vertical flanges of beams 13 slidably oppose the frame posts 6, and the horizontal flanges extend away from the posts and afford supports for material platform planks 15 between the upright frames. Since the angle irons oppose the upright posts and the ends of the planks oppose the vertical legs of the angle irons, the platform supports cannot spread and permit the platform to drop.

Brackets 17 (FIGS. 3-6), attached to the underside of beams 13, pivotally mount strutlike latches 18 which depend from the brackets and are thrust by springs 19 to swing about their pivots 20 in a vertical plane toward rungs 8 and ride over the rungs as the carriage is raised, but the latches positively engage a selected rung to hold the carriage against downward movement. To lower the carriage it is first raised to relieve latches 18 which may be withdrawn from the rungs by pulls 21.

Depending from each horizontal carriage angle 13 at the left-hand side of each upright frame are a pair of vertically disposed bars or tubes 22. A diagonal brace 23 extends from the lower ends of bars 22 to an outer portion of horizontal carriage 13. A roller 24 on a bushing between tubes 22 engages the corresponding upright post 6 to facilitate vertical movement of the carriage. Similar vertical tubes 27 and a diagonal 28 and a cantilever 29 at the right-hand side of each upright frame mount aplatform 30 at a convenient height for workmen at a lower level than platform 15.

Winch devices W (FIGS. 1, 2, 7-9) for raising the carriages each embodying a frame which includes a pair of horizontal angles 31 forming rung-engaging hooks held in vertically spaced relation by straps 32 and 33. A shaft 34 is journaled on straps 32, 33 and mounts a drum 35 at each end. Shaft 34 carries a housing 36 held against rotation by anchors 37 to angles 31. Within the housing is a gear 38 having a ratchet 39, and a pawl 40 with a release finger 41. The gear is driven by a worm 42 manually rotatable by a crank 43. Normally the worm and gear will check rotation of the shaft by the carriage load, but the ratchet and pawl afford a positive check and safety device.

Each winch is readily applicable to and removable from selected rungs 8 independently of the platform carriage by sliding it upwardly over the rungs but when under load the winch frame is thrust toward the rungs to hold the frame in engagement with the rungs. Cables 45 each have one end secured to a drum 35, the other end of each cable being secured to a platform carriage 13.

Safety braces 50 correspond to those usually provided to avoid undue tilting of a scaffold section when only one end of the section is being raised. By using two winches at opposite ends of a scaffold section it may be kept level while being raised. If this is not important only one winch is required.

The outer ends of each pair of associated horizontal beam elements 13 are connected by ties 52 to which upwardly opening sockets 54 are welded at 59. Upright posts 56 are mounted in sockets 54 and carry guard rails 58. Brackets integral with sockets 54 mount upright boards 62 which extend between beams 13. Elements 56, 58 and 62 afford convenience and security for workmen on platform planks 15. FIG. 2 shows upright posts 56 extended upwardly at 64 to afford supports 68 for roof or awning structure (not shown).

The scaffolding is easy to erect, adjust and to dismantle for transfer and subsequent erection. One man on platform 15 can supply material for six or eight masons on platform 30 without interrupting their work. One man can increase the height of the scaffold by use of additional post sections and braces without requiring a lift truck or a crane.

The details of the structure may be varied substantially without departing from the spirit of the invention as set forth in the accompanying claims and the exclusive use of such modifications of the structure is contemplated.

I claim:

1. In a scaffold, an end structure comprising laterally spaced uprights, vertically spaced horizontal rungs extending between said uprights, a platform carriage extending between and beyond said uprights and slidable vertically thereon, a winch having a generally rectangular frame between said uprights including a downwardly facing horizontal member which may be readily seated on and removed from a rung for application to another rung by a workman standing on said carriage, said winch including a horizontal shaft joumaled on said frame and extending laterally therefrom beyond said uprights, there being drums on said shaft outwardly of said uprights, and cables secured to said drums and depending therefrom and attached to said carriage for lifting the same and the workman.

2. A scaffold as described in claim 1 in which the winch frame includes upper and lower horizontal members having downwardly concaved seats spaced apart to fit over two spaced rungs between the uprights and stably mount the winch on the end structure.

3. A scaffold as described in claim 1 in which the winch frame is slidable upwardly over the rungs to seat on a higher rung.

4. A scaffold as described in claim 1 in which a latch is pivoted on the carriage to overlie and positively engage a rung upon downward movement of the carriage to support the same independently of the winch and to ride freely over the rungs to permit unobstructed upward movement of the carriage.

5. A scaffold as described in claim 4 which includes a manually operable crank on the winch and a manuallv operable release for said latch, said crank and release being accessible to a workman standing on said carriage between said uprights.

6. In a scaffold, spaced upright ladderlike frames with horizontal rungs between them, a platform-mounting carriage slidable vertically on said upright frames and having support brackets readily engageable with a selected rung, and a winch including a frame with vertically spaced horizontal hooklike elements for ready application to a selected rung and readily detachable therefrom for application to a different rung, the

winch having a drum with 3 depending cable attached directly to the carriage for lifting the same.

7. A scaffold structure as described in claim 6 in which the winch frame horizontal members are structural angle irons each having a horizontal flange overlying a rung, and having a depending flange engaging the front of a rung to limit the pivotal movement of the frame past the upright, and the weight of the carriage on the cables thrusts the lower portion of the winch toward the rungs.

8. A scaffold structure as described in claim 6 in which the hooklike elements include horizontally elongated terminals extending lengthwise of the selected rung substantially the full distance between the associated posts.

9. A scaffold structure as described in claim 6 in which the winch includes a worm gear drive for rotating the drum manually and holding it against rotation by the weight of the carriage on the cable. 

1. In a scaffold, an end structure comprising laterally spaced uprights, vertically spaced horizontal rungs extending between said uprights, a platform carriage extending between and beyond said uprights and slidable vertically thereon, a winch having a generally rectangular frame between said uprights including a downwardly facing horizontal member which may be readily seated on and removed from a rung for application to another rung by a workman standing on said carriage, said winch including a horizontal shaft journaled on said frame and extending laterally therefrom beyond said uprights, there being drums on said shaft outwardly of said uprights, and cables secured to said drums and depending therefrom and attached to said carriage for lifting the same and the workman.
 2. A scaffold as described in claim 1 in which the winch frame includes upper and lower horizontal members having downwardly concaved seats spaced apart to fit over two spaced rungs between the uprights and stably mount the winch on the end structure.
 3. A scaffold as described in claim 1 in which the winch frame is slidable upwardly over the rungs to seat on a higher rung.
 4. A scaffold as described in claim 1 in which a latch is pivoted on the carriage to overlie and positively engage a rung upon downward movement of the carriage to support the same independently of the winch and to ride freely over the rungs to permit unobstructed upward movement of the carriage.
 5. A scaffold as described in claim 4 which includes a manually operable crank on the winch and a manually operable release for said latch, said crank and release being accessible to a workman standing on said carriage between said uprights.
 6. In a scaffold, spaced upright ladderlike frames with horizontal rungs between them, a platform-mounting carriage slidable vertically on said upright frames and having support brackets readily engageable with a selected rung, and a winch including a frame with vertically spaced horizontal hooklike elements for ready application to a selected rung and readily detachable therefrom for application to a different rung, the winch having a drum with a depending cable attached directly to the carriage for lifting the same.
 7. A scaffold structure as described in claim 6 in which the winch frame horizontal members are structural angle irons each having a horizontal flange overlying a rung, and having a depending flange engaging the front of a rung to limit the pivotal movement of the frame past the upright, and the weight of the carriage on the cables thrusts the lower portion of the winch toward the rungs.
 8. A scaffold structure as described in claim 6 in which the hooklike elements include horizontally elongated terminals extending lengthwise of the selected rung substantially the full distance between the associated posts.
 9. A scaffold structure as described in claim 6 in which the winch includes a worm gear drive for rotating the drum manually and holding it against rotation by the weight of the carriage on the cable. 